After a few weeks of being deprived of league rugby, it was a small but expectant crowd that attended a dull, damp Carmarthen Park for the fixture against Merthyr. Unfortunately they were soon to be disappointed as what unfolded was a dour match of few try scoring opportunities and a day that the kickers would wish to forget.

                          
The first quarter saw Merthyr on the back foot, hardly managing to enter the opposition half. However, their spoiling tactics, although heavily penalised and also resulting in Paul Watkins being yellow carded, managed to keep the Quins scoreless. During this time the home-side missed four kickable penalties and must have been horrified when Scott Sneddon put the visitors in front with a penalty from their first visit to the Carmarthen "22".
                          

Merthyr gained a little confidence in the latter part of the first half and did mount a few attacks but again their discipline let them down resulting in further penalties and this time John Difford being yellow carded. Craig Jones converted a retaken penalty (Merthyr unlawfully charged the first kick) but Scott Sneddon gave the Steelmen the half time lead with a 35m. penalty in the dying minutes.
                          

A more spirited Quins side took the field in the second half but a resolute Merthyr team kept them out most of the time. The home side made ten visits to the opposition "22", as compared to their one, and had seventy percent of possession but were only able to capitalise with a Craig Jones penalty and a try by Paul Arnold. All too often the effort of the dominant Carmarthen pack seemed to be made from deep and petering out when reaching the red zone.
                          

Merthyr's reply was a 40m. penalty converted again by Scott Sneddon but, fortunately for the home side, he missed two further attempts in the dying minutes which would a given his side the win. Carmarthen Quins sighed with relief but had accomplished what teams have to do - win on an off day.

Final Score - Quins 11 Merthyr 9

Next Match - Llangennech (A) October 20th.

Reporter – Keith Bond